Herbs & foods10 min
Triphala beyond bedtime: seasonal pairings, a mouth rinse and a hair wash
Triphala — a blend of amla, haritaki and bibhitaki — is best known as a gentle bedtime digestive. But Ayurveda uses it in more ways: paired with different carriers by season, as a mouth rinse for gums, and as a cleansing hair wash.
The Ayurvedic view
The three fruits balance each other: amla cools pitta, haritaki moves vata, and bibhitaki clears kapha. Together they are considered a tridoshic rasayana that supports digestion, elimination, eyes and skin. Classical texts suggest changing the anupana (the carrier taken with a medicine) according to the season, so the same powder suits the weather.
Ingredients
- Triphala powder from a trusted brand
- Seasonal carrier: jaggery in the monsoon, honey in spring, a little ghee in late winter, mishri in summer
- Warm water
How to prepare
- Oral dose: mix ½ teaspoon triphala with a small amount of the seasonal carrier, or stir into half a cup of warm water.
- Mouth rinse: steep 1 teaspoon triphala in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes, strain and cool until lukewarm.
- Hair wash: soak 2 tablespoons triphala in 2 cups of water overnight; boil for 5 minutes, cool and strain.
How to use
- Take the oral dose once a day, usually in the evening, for a few weeks at a time.
- Swish the rinse in the mouth for a minute and spit out, once a day, for sensitive gums.
- Pour the hair wash over the scalp after shampooing, massage and rinse lightly; once a week.
Helpful habits
- Triphala tastes bitter and astringent; the carrier makes it easier to take.
- Store powder in an airtight jar away from moisture.
Precautions
- Avoid oral triphala in pregnancy, while breastfeeding and in young children unless prescribed.
- It can cause loose stools; reduce or stop if this happens. Not for people with diarrhoea, dehydration or inflammatory bowel disease flares.
- People with diabetes should skip jaggery, honey and mishri carriers. Check with your doctor if you take blood thinners or diabetes medicines.
- Don't use triphala water as an eyewash at home — non-sterile liquids in the eyes can cause infection.
